The almost 98-year-old said she’s not giving up her membership though, just “retiring gracefully” from volunteering in the store. 

Mary can’t remember the exact year she started at Craft Corner, but she can remember the day very clearly. 

“It was in the late 70s,” she said.

“I remember because I was still working at Parkes High School as a senior clerical assistant, I was there for 20 years.

“There was an ad in the Champion Post offering lunchtime crocheting classes, so I went along and it all started from there. 

“I had learnt to crochet many years before, but there were two points I still wanted to learn.” 

Mary said her favourite thing about being involved with Craft Corner has been meeting the people who come in and out. 

“I love seeing all the different crafts come and go, it’s very interesting,” she said.

Mary is a very experienced crafter with a myriad of talents, making hundreds of exquisite items over her career.

“I’ve done patchwork, crochet, knitting, machine knitting, you name it, I’ve done it,” she said. 

“Myself and three of my friends used to visit craft shops in different towns.

“It was interesting talking to those people, I learnt a lot that way.

“When I was able, I would haunt craft shops!” She laughed. 

Mary recalls going on a trip to Darwin.

“They dropped us off at the museum,” she said.

“But I didn’t like the museum and when I saw a sign for a quilt exhibition I flew there!”

PICTURED ABOVE: Mary and her Craft Corner comrades held a retirement morning tea last Thursday, from left Judy Kinsela, Rosemary Mitchell, Barb Guppy, Carol Lee, Ruth Simpson, Lesley Simpson, Joy Martin, Marg Ingram, Marg Tanner and Noeleen Rathbone.